UN Human Rights Council Appoints New Special Rapporteurs

The UN Human Rights Council has appointed several new special rapporteurs who will focus on monitoring human rights as they relate to certain issues or countries.

• Christof Heyns becomes the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, succeeding Philip Alston;
• Heiner Bielefeldt replaces Asma Jahangir as the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief;
• Kishore Singh takes over from Vernor Muñoz Villalobos as the Special Rapporteur on the right to education.
• Calin Georgescu is now Special Rapporteur on the adverse effects of the movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights, succeeding Okechukwu Ibeanu;
• Fatsah Ouguergouz replaces Akich Okola as the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Burundi; and
• Marzuki Darusman is the new Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), taking over from Vitit Muntarbhorn.

Special Rapporteurs and Independent Experts report to the Human Rights Council and serve in both an independent and unpaid capacity.

(adapted from a UN Press Release)